Democratic incumbents skip District 27 debate

None of the Democratic candidates in the District 27 state legislative races attended the Citizens Clean Elections Commission debate last week.

Both Republican candidates and the Green Party candidate lost no time last Thursday in pointing out their no-show opponents, Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor and Reps. Ruben Gallego and Catherine Miranda.

Taylor said she had a family emergency, and Gallego was in Washington, D.C., for a fundraiser. Miranda did not immediately respond to a telephone call seeking comment.

District 27 includes parts of Tempe.

"My opponent Leah Landrum, along with Catherine Miranda, decided, I guess, that it wasn't important to them to speak to their constituents," Republican Senate candidate Sarah Coleman said.

Sarah Coleman said she wants to give voters the chance to compare Landrum Taylor and her policies with another candidate.

"I don't think she's done such a great job that we should say, 'Let's give her another 13th or 14th year in office because of all the wonderful things she's done for us.' I can't point to a single thing that she has done," Sarah Coleman said.

Republican Daniel Coleman said Miranda failed in "her obligation to discuss issues relevant to the district and answer questions about the allegations against her."

Miranda's campaign is under investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office concerning allegations of fraudulent signatures on campaign petitions.

House GOP candidate Daniel Coleman said he too would focus on education reforms.

Green Party House candidate Angel Torres said the solution to the state's education and economic problems lies in creating strong labor unions and cooperatives.

Republican House candidate Susan Marcell, called the Democratic candidates' absence a "slap in the face."